The debate over the greatest Indian cricketers of all time is one that never loses its spark. With a rich cricketing history spanning decades, India has produced numerous legends across all departments of the game. From record-breaking batters to game-changing bowlers, the choices are endless, making it nearly impossible to settle on a definitive list. The topic remains a popular conversation starter among cricket enthusiasts, players, and analysts alike, keeping the legacy of Indian cricket alive.

Venkatesh Prasad names his all-time Indian cricketing greats

On January 26, 2025, as India celebrated Republic Day, former Indian cricketer Venkatesh Prasad added his voice to this never-ending debate. In a Q&A session on X (formerly Twitter), titled #AskVenky, Prasad revealed his picks for the top five Indian cricketers of all time. His list included many legendary names from Indian cricket. Let’s have a look at Prasad’s picks:

1) Sachin Tendulkar: The master blaster

It’s no surprise that Sachin Tendulkar topped Prasad’s list. Widely regarded as the greatest cricketer of all time, Tendulkar’s records speak for themselves. The ‘Master Blaster�is the only player to score 100 international centuries and was the first to register a double century in ODIs. His unmatched consistency, technical brilliance, and ability to adapt to any format have made him a global icon and a symbol of excellence in Indian cricket.

2) Kapil Dev: The all-round genius

Kapil Dev, the charismatic leader who brought India its first World Cup triumph in 1983, earned his place on Prasad’s list as an all-round great. With 434 Test wickets and over 9,000 international runs, Kapil remains one of the finest all-rounders in cricket history. His leadership, coupled with his ability to perform under pressure, made him a pioneer in shaping India’s cricketing future.

3) Sunil Gavaskar: The little master

Known for his unparalleled technique and consistency, Sunil Gavaskar revolutionized Indian cricket during his era. As the first player to score 10,000 Test runs, Gavaskar’s resilience against fearsome fast bowlers is the stuff of legend. His 34 Test centuries stand as a testament to his brilliance and his contribution to establishing India as a formidable force in world cricket.

Also READ: Ravi Shastri, Michael Vaughan reveal their top 3 greatest Indian batters

4) Anil Kumble: The spin wizard

Anil Kumble’s inclusion in the list is a tribute to his remarkable career as one of India’s finest bowlers. Known for his unrelenting accuracy and fierce competitiveness, Kumble amassed 619 Test wickets, including his iconic 10-wicket haul in an innings against Pakistan in 1999. His ability to deliver match-winning performances on all types of pitches made him a vital asset for the Indian team.

5) Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, and Gundappa Vishwanath

Prasad couldn’t narrow down the fifth spot, leaving it shared between three distinct players in the form of Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag and Gundappa Vishwanath.

Dravid, nicknamed ‘The Wall,’ was India’s go-to man for anchoring innings and rescuing the team in challenging situations. His technical mastery and ability to play marathon knocks earned him immense respect.

Sehwag redefined opening batting with his fearless aggression and unmatched strike rate. Known for his explosive batting, Sehwag is the only Indian with two triple centuries in Test cricket.

Vishwanath is remembered for his grace and wristy elegance. A master of stroke play, Vishwanath’s ability to score under pressure made him one of India’s most admired batters.

Also READ: Venkatesh Prasad names two greatest Indian players of all time

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The Test series between England and India is ready to get underway from Wednesday (August 4) at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. Both the teams will play as many as five matches in the upcoming series.

The iconic Lords Cricket Ground in London will host the second match, while the third game will be played at Headingley Stadium in Leeds. Similarly, the final two fixtures will take place at Kennington Oval in London and Old Trafford in Manchester.

Fans would be expecting a cracker of series and some high-quality batting display from both sides. The history also suggests that England and India have always engaged in top of the line matches with some sensational performances by the batters.

From Sachin Tendulkar to Alastair Cook, both the countries have produced top-class batsmen who have entertained the admirers of the game with their astounding performances. On that note, today let’s have a look at the top five run-scorers in England-India Tests:

5.) Gundappa Viswanath �1880 runs

Legendary Indian batter Gundappa Rangnath Viswanath was the crisis man for his team. He was known for his brilliant strokeplay and incredible ability to adept against pace and spin equally. His string wrist work, classic late-cut shots and footwork against the spinners made him one of the greatest Indian batters of all time.

Vishwanath played as many as 91 Test matches for India, in which he scored 6080 runs at an average of 41.93. The Mysore-lad smashed 14 hundreds and 35 half-centuries, with 222 being his best score. Against England, the right-handed batsman made 1880 runs in 30 matches, including 4 tons and 12 fifties.

4.) Rahul Dravid �1950 runs

Known as the ‘Wall of Indian Cricket’, Rahul Dravid was a highly skilled batsman. Dravid took India to newer heights, especially in the challenging conditions overseas. He belongs to that elite list of cricketers who scored more than 13,000 runs in the longest format.

The Karnataka stalwart played 163 Tests, scoring 13,625 runs with 36 hundreds and 63 half-centuries, including five double tons. Dravid has enjoyed an ample amount of success against England. The former India skipper appeared in 21 matches against England, where he managed to score 1950 runs, including seven centuries and eight fifties.

3.) Alastair Cook �2431 runs

The only Englishman in this elite list is none other than the ex-England skipper and opening batsman Alastair Cook. The left-handed batter was arguably one of the finest Test players ever produced by English cricket. Under his leadership, England reached several new heights.

Cook played 161 Test matches, in which he managed to accumulate 12,472 runs at an average of 45.35. The Gloucester cricketer smashed 33 centuries and 57 half-tons, with 294 being his best score.

Cook’s tremendous record against India can be understood with the simple fact that both his maiden Test ton and last century came versus India. The quality opening batter played 30 matches against India and scored 2341 runs with the help of seven hundreds.

2.) Sunil Gavaskar �2483 runs

Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar is second on this list. Gavaskar was the first player in the history of red-ball cricket to breach the benchmark of 10,000 runs. He was widely considered as one of the greatest opening batsmen of all-time.

The Little Master appeared in 125 Test matches in his glorious career, amassing 10,122 runs, including 34 tons and 45 fifties. He averaged 51.12 in the oldest format, with unbeaten 236 as his best score. Even against England, the Mumbaikar was a dominant batter. In 38 Tests against England, Gavaskar scored 2483 runs with the help of 4 centuries and 16 half-tons.

1.) Sachin Tendulkar �2535 runs

Indian batting phenom and the most prolific run-scorer of all-time, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, is the list leader. Tendulkar is an undisputed champion and arguably the most celebrated cricketer the game has ever known. A straight drive, backfoot punch, leg glance, paddle sweep, cover drive, square cut and what not, Tendulkar had every shot in his armoury.

The Mumbaikar finished his outstanding Test career as the highest run-scorer and century-maker in the history of the fascinating game. Tendulkar accumulated 15,921 runs in 200 Tests at a brilliant average of 53.78. He smashed 51 hundreds and 68 half-centuries in the red-ball format.

When it comes to his performance against England, he scored 2535 runs in 32 matches at a remarkable average of 51.73. The right-handed batsman smashed seven centuries and 13 fifties versus England, with 193 being his best score.

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After making an International debut in 2014 against Australia in Tests, KL Rahul has scored centuries in all the formats of the game. His hunger for runs and his calm headed personality makes him one of the most exciting talents in Indian cricket.

Now, apart from cricket, he is turning into a stylish icon as well. Rahul loves to sport different hairstyles in different seasons and the tattoos inked on his body are enhancing his connect with the youth.

Recently, the Karnataka lad featured in an episode of ‘What The Duck’ hosted by stand-up comedian Vikram Sathaye, where he told stories from his childhood and recounted instances from the past that very few know about.

During the episode, he recalled times when his mother Rajeshwari would look at him and jokingly wonder what went wrong with her upbringing. He also shared the two different stories of his parents regarding the origin of his name.

Firstly, Rahul said his mother told him that when she was pregnant with him, she was watching a movie featuring Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, in which the actor’s screen name was Rahul. Inspired by it, she decided to name her son the same.

He also revealed the second version of the story – one from his father’s side. As Rahul explained, his father was a huge fan of former Indian greats Gundappa Vishwanath and Sunil Gavaskar and even used to go to the stadium to watch them bat.

During one of the matches KL’s father was following, the commentators said that Gavaskar’s son was named Rohan. But poor father messed up the two names- ‘Rahul and Rohan’ in his head and was happy to name his son Rahul, thinking that he was following in the footsteps of Sunny, and was ensuring a cricket connection.

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